Robert Hankins joined the coaching staff of the cheerleading team at McKendree University in 2018 as a graduate assistant coach.
Hankins, a Nashville, Ill., native, is a familiar face on the mats, as a former three-year cheerleader for the Bearcats. Before transferring to McKendree, he cheered for two years at Kaskaski College.
"He has helped build the program to what it is today," said head cheerleading coach Bianca Bergman, "I believe his experience on game day and competitive will allow him to help him to teach our cheerleaders the meaning to being a McKendree cheerleader."
Hankins was relative new to the sport and is coming up on his seventh year of active involvement. He was part of the McKendree team that made an appearance in the Small Coed Division ll of the National Cheerleaders Association's (NCA) Collegiate Championship that took third-place in 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.
Aside from his collegiate cheer experience, Hankins was adamant in coaching. He helped coach the 2018-19 Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) College National's fourth-place team, and for the past four years been coaching tumbling in southern Illinois.
"What I am looking forward to the most is being able to help those athletes that never thought they would cheer in college," said Hankins. "To help them get the skills and to keep them motivated throughout the entire season."
Hankins graduated from McKendree University in 2017 and studied public relations.
